Velocipede



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

A. H. OVERMAN.

VELOGIPEDE. No. 398,533. Patented Feb. 26, 1889.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. A. H. OVERMAN.

VELOGIPBDE. I No. 398,533. Patented Feb. 26. 1889.

Y 1": O/u/c mum (No Model.) 3 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. A. H. OVERMAN.

VELOGIPEDE. N0. 398,533. Patented Febu26, 1889.

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ALBERT H. OVERMAN', OF NE\VTON, ASSIGNOR TO THE OVER-MAN YVHEEL COMPANY,OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,533, dated February26, 1889.

Original application filed December 13, 1886, Serial No. 221,368.Divided and this application filed January 16, 1889. Serial No. 296,491.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT H. OVERHAN, residing at Newton, in the countyof Suffolk and State of illassacl'lusctts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Velocipedes; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This case is presei'ited as a division of the ap plication filedDecember 13, 1880, by the same applicant, and serially numbered 221,368,and is designed to cover so much of the invention disclosed inthatapplicationasisnotinvolved in a pending interference, in which thesame has been placed and is properly divisional matter.

My invention relates to an improvement in velocipedes, the object beingto adapt them to absorb vibration, and thus increase their comfort anddurability.

\Vith these ends in view my invention consists in awheel-fork composedof independent bowed springs, and in certain details of construction, aswill be hereinafter more fully 1 described, and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of myimproved spring wheel-fork, in combination with a steering-wheel andsteering-rod of a velocipede. Fig. 2 is a view of such parts in frontelevation with the wheel. in broken lines, and Fig. 3 is an enlargeddetached perspective view of the spring wheel-fork.

As herein shown, my improved spring whee.- fork is composed of fourheavy independent K bowed spring-rods, H, separated at each end andplaced side byside with a sufficient space between the inner rods forthe wheel G to i run in, the rods on the same sides of the wheel beingsubstantially parallel with each other. By preference, and as shown, therods are so bowed as to bring the rearwardlyinclined steering-rod A intoline with the 1 center of the wheel. The upper ends of the l rods areattached at equal distances apart to j a horizontal cross-head, I,located at a point 5 outside of the rim of the wheel and rigidly lsecured to the lower end of the steering-rod l A, which is mounted inthe steering-head D, located at the forward end of the reach F of thevehicle-frame, with which the upper ends of the rods are thus connected.The lower ends of the rods have eyes J, adapted to be slipped over theextended ends K of the wheelaxle L. A tranverse brace, N, of anysuitable construction, is employed for tying the rods together. Asshown, it is located about midway the length of the rods and curvedout-ward, as at M, to escape the rim of the wheel. This brace M may,however, be dispensed with, if desired, without departing from myinvention. Short tubes C, located upon the extended ends K of the axle,are interposed between the eyes J, formed at the lower ends of thespring-rods 1i, and preserve the lower ends of the said rods in theirrela tions to each other, the said eyes and tubes being held upon theaxle by nuts D.

A spring wheel-fork, made as described, responds readily to verticalimpressions and absorbs vibration, so as to not pnly promote the comfortof the rider, but also prolong the life of the machine by saving it frommuch wrenching and strainin Although cushioning vertically, asdescribed, the fork is protected against twisting or other deflection bythe location of its rods side by side, and by having common connections,respectively, for their upper and lower ends, whereby. they brace eachother laterally.

My improved spring wheel-fork is not limited to use with asteering-wheel of a velocipede, but may be applied to other wheels ofsuch vehicles. If desired, more than four rods may be employed in thefork, and their curvature and relative arrangement maybe modified asbecomes expedient.

I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exactarrangement of parts shown and described, but hold myself at liberty tomake such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit andscope of my invention.

Having fully described my inventiomwhat 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a velocipede, a wheel-fork composed of four or more bowed springsplaced side by side, with a space between the inner springs I having theends of its axle extended, and a for the wheel to run in, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a velocipede, the combination, with a wheel-fork composed ofindependent bowed springs, separated at each end, and each secured atone end to a cross-head common to them all, of a wheel having its axleextended at each end for the attachment of the other ends of the saidspring-s, substantially as set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the combination, with a rearwardly-inclinedsteering-rod and a steering-wheel, of a bowed spring-fork composed curedto its lower end, of a steering-wheel spring wheel-fork composed of fouror more bowed springs placed side by side with a space between the innerrods for the wheel to run of four or more independent springs conineeted with the lower end of the rod and with the wheel-axle, andcurved,substantially as shown, so as to bring the rod virtually in linewith the center of the wheel, substantially as s set forth.

4. In a veloeipede, the combination, with a 1 steering-rod having across-head rigidly sein, and having their upper ends rigidly secured tothe said cross-head, and their lower ends provided with eyes adaptingthem to be slipped over the extended ends of the wheelaxle,substantially as set forth.

5. In a velocipede, a wheel-fork composed of bowed spring-rods and atransverse brace tying such rods together, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subserib ing witnesses.

ALBERT H. OVERMAN.

Witnesses:

WM. J. DE MAURIAC, EDWARD l-I. ROGERS.

